Reload assembly with spent reload indicator

ABSTRACT

A reload assembly is disclosed that includes a proximal body portion having an indicator that is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to provides a visual indication to a clinician of the state of the reload assembly, i.e., whether the reload assembly is loaded with staples and ready for use or depleted of staples. A tool assembly of the presently disclosed reload assembly may also include a cartridge assembly, an anvil and a drive assembly. In embodiments, one or both of the cartridge assembly, the anvil, and/or the drive assembly may support an illuminating device. In embodiments, the illuminating device, which may be an LED, is adapted to change color when the reload assembly has been fired to provide an indication to a clinician that the reload assembly is spent. Since the illuminating device is illuminated when reload assembly is in both the unused and spent states, the illuminating device also improves visualization during placement and use of the reload assembly.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Description

The present disclosure relates to surgical stapling devices and, moreparticularly, to reload assemblies for surgical stapling devices havingreload indicators that identify the current condition of the reloadassembly.

2. Background of Related Art

Surgical stapling devices that include disposable reloads are known inthe art. Disposable reloads can be separated from the stapling deviceand replaced with a fresh or loaded disposable reload to facilitatereuse of a stapling device during a surgical procedure to minimize costsassociated with the surgical procedure. After a stapling device is firedand the disposable reload is spent, i.e., the staples have been firedfrom the reload, the disposable reload is separated from the staplingdevice and discarded. In order to prevent reuse of a spent reload,reloads typically include a lockout to prevent re-advancement of a drivemember of the reload. However, the lockout is not visible to a clinicianand thus, the clinician may not be aware the reload is spent until thereload is attached to the stapling device and an attempt is made to firethe stapling device. In addition, during a surgical procedure, aclinician may remove an unused reload from the stapling device to attacha reload of a different size. Although the removed reload may have bloodor other tissue on the reload, it is still suitable for use.

It would be desirable to provide a disposable reload including anindicator that provides a clear indication to a clinician of thecondition of the reload, i.e., if the reload is fresh or spent.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the disclosure a reload assembly includes a proximalbody portion having a housing defining a window, a drive assembly, andan indicator. The drive assembly is supported within the housing and ismovable from a retracted position to an advanced position. The indicatoris supported within the housing and is movable from a retracted positionto an advanced position in response to movement of the drive assemblyfrom the retracted position to the advanced position. A tool assembly issupported on a distal portion of the proximal body portion. The toolassembly includes first and second jaws, wherein the first jaw supportsan anvil and the second jaw supports a cartridge assembly having aplurality of staples. The indicator includes first and second indicia.The first indicium is positioned beneath the window of the housing inthe retracted position of the indicator and the second indicium ispositioned beneath the window of the housing in the advanced position ofthe indicator.

In embodiments, the first indicium includes a first color and the secondindicium includes a second color different than the first color.

In some embodiments, the first indicium is green and the second indiciumis red.

In certain embodiments, the drive assembly includes a distal workingportion that is movable through the tool assembly as the drive assemblymoves from the retracted position towards the advanced position to ejectthe plurality of staples from the cartridge assembly.

In embodiments, at least one illuminating device is supported on thetool assembly.

In some embodiments, the illuminating device is supported on at leastone of the cartridge assembly, the anvil, and the drive assembly.

In certain embodiments, the illuminating device is a light emittingdiode.

In embodiments, the illuminating device is adapted to have a change instate after the drive assembly is moved from the retracted position tothe advanced position to eject the plurality of staples from thecartridge assembly.

In some embodiments, the change in state is a change in color.

In certain embodiments, the proximal body portion includes an inner bodysupported within the housing. The inner body defines an elongated recessand the indicator is movable within the elongated recess from theretracted position to the advanced position.

In embodiments, the indicator includes a body and a cantilevered legextending proximally of the body. The cantilevered leg is positioned tobe engaged by drive assembly as the drive assembly moves from theretracted position towards the advanced position to move the indicatorfrom its retracted position to its advanced position.

In some embodiments, the body of the indicator is semi-cylindrical andis dimensioned to be positioned about the inner body within theelongated recess.

In certain embodiments, the cantilevered leg of the indicator is movablefrom a deformed state in which the cantilevered leg is positioned to beengaged by the drive assembly to a non-deformed state in which thecantilevered leg of the indicator is spaced from a path of movement ofthe drive assembly.

In embodiments, the inner body defines an inner wall that is positionedto retain the cantilevered leg of the indicator in the deformed statewhen the indicator is in the retracted position.

In some embodiments, the inner body defines a slot that is positioned toreceive the cantilevered leg of the indicator when the indicator is inthe advanced position to allow the cantilevered leg to move to thenon-deformed state.

In certain embodiments, the inner wall defines a protrusion and thecantilevered leg defines a concavity. The protrusion is received withinthe concavity to releasably retain the indicator in the retractedposition.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a reload assembly includes aproximal body portion having an inner body and a drive assemblysupported within the inner body. The drive assembly has a distal workingportion and is movable within the inner body from a retracted positionto an advanced position. A tool assembly includes first and second jawsthat are movable in relation to each other from an open position to aclamped position. The first jaw supports an anvil and the second jawsupports a cartridge assembly having a plurality of staples. The distalworking portion of the drive assembly is movable through the toolassembly to eject the plurality of staples from the cartridge assembly.The tool assembly supports an illuminating device that defines indicia,the indicia being adapted to change from a first state to a second statewhen the plurality of staples is ejected from the cartridge assembly.

In embodiments, in the first state the indicia is a first color and inthe second state the indicia is a second color.

In some embodiments, the illuminating device is supported on at leastone of the anvil, the cartridge assembly, and the drive assembly.

In certain embodiments, the illuminating device is supported on a distalportion of at least one of the anvil and the cartridge assembly.

In embodiments, the illuminating device includes a light emitting diode.

In some embodiments, the proximal body portion includes a housing thatreceives the inner body and an indicator positioned within the housing.The indicator is supported within the housing and is movable from aretracted position to an advanced position in response to movement ofthe drive assembly from the retracted position to the advanced position.The indicator includes first and second indicium, the first indiciumbeing positioned beneath the window of the housing in the retractedposition of the indicator and the second indicium being positionedbeneath the window of the housing in the advanced position of theindicator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the presently disclosed reload assembly for asurgical stapling device are described herein below with reference tothe drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a surgical stapling deviceincluding one embodiment of the presently disclosed reload assembly witha tool assembly in an open position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, top, perspective view of the reload assemblyshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, bottom, perspective view of the reload assemblyshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown in FIG.6;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the reload assembly shown in FIG. 2 with thetool assembly in a clamped position shown in phantom;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the reload assembly shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 10 illustrating a top view of an indicator of the reload assembly;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the indicator shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a side, perspective view of a proximal portion of the reloadassembly shown in FIG. 9 with an outer housing removed and the indicatorin a retracted position;

FIG. 15 is a top view of a proximal portion of the reload assembly shownin FIG. 9 with the outer housing shown in phantom and the indicator anddrive member in retracted positions;

FIG. 16 is a top view of a proximal portion of the reload assembly shownin FIG. 9 with the outer housing shown in phantom, the drive member apartially advanced position prior to engagement with the indicator, andthe indicator in a retracted position;

FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the tool assembly of the reloadassembly shown in FIG. 9 in the clamped position;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 17-17 of FIG.6;

FIG. 18 is a top view of a proximal portion of the reload assembly shownin FIG. 9 with the outer housing shown in phantom, the drive member apartially advanced position engaged with the indicator, and theindicator in an advanced position;

FIG. 19 is a bottom, perspective view of the reload assembly shown inFIG. 9 in the clamped position with the drive member fully advanced;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a bottom, perspective view of the reload assembly shown inFIG. 19 in the clamped position with the drive member fully advanced;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a side, perspective view of the reload assembly shown in FIG.22 after the reload assembly has been fired and detached from the bodyportion of the stapling device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 25; and

FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of the indicated area of detail shown inFIG. 25;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The presently disclosed reload assembly, in association with a surgicalstapling device, will now be described in detail with reference to thedrawings in which like reference numerals designate identical orcorresponding elements in each of the several views. In thisdescription, the term “proximal” is used generally to refer to thatportion of the device that is closer to a clinician, while the term“distal” is used generally to refer to that portion of the device thatis farther from the clinician. In addition, the term “endoscopic” isused generally to refer to endoscopic, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, andany other surgical procedure performed through a small incision or acannula inserted into a patient's body. Finally, the term clinician isused generally to refer to medical personnel including doctors, nurses,and support personnel.

The reload assembly includes a proximal body portion that includes anindicator that is movable from a retracted position to an advancedposition. As described in detail below, in the retracted position, theindicator provides a visual indication to a clinician that the reloadassembly is loaded with staples and ready for use, i.e., the reloadassembly is fresh, and in the advanced position, the indicator providesa visual indication to a clinician that the reload assembly is depletedof staples, i.e., the reload assembly spent. In embodiments, the toolassembly of the presently disclosed reload assembly includes a cartridgeassembly and an anvil. As described in detail below, one or both of thecartridge assembly and anvil may include an illuminating device that isadapted to change color when the reload assembly has been fired toprovide an indication to a clinician that the reload assembly is spent.Since the illuminating device is illuminated when reload assembly is inboth the fresh and spent states, the illuminating device also improvesvisualization during placement and use of the reload assembly within abody cavity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a surgical stapling device 10 including a handle oractuator assembly 12, an adaptor assembly 14, and a reload assembly 100.The actuator assembly 12 includes a stationary grip 16, actuationbuttons 18, and a battery pack 20 secured to the stationary grip 16. Theadaptor assembly 14 includes a proximal portion that is releasablycoupled to the actuator assembly 12 and a distal portion that supportsthe reload assembly 100. U.S. Patent No. 2014/0110453 (453 publication),hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, discloses anelectrically powered surgical stapling device including an actuatorassembly 12 and an adaptor assembly 14. Although the present disclosureillustrates the surgical stapling device 10 as being electricallypowered, it is envisioned that the surgical stapling device 10 can bemanually actuated. U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,361 (the '361 patent) and U.S.Pat. No. 7,143,924 (the '924 patent), hereby incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety, disclose known manually powered surgicalstapling devices. It is also envisioned that the reload can beconfigured for use in a robotic surgical system.

Referring to FIGS. 2-8, the reload assembly 100 includes a proximal bodyportion 102, a tool assembly 104, and coupling assembly 106 thatpivotally secures the tool assembly 104 to the proximal body portion102. A suitable coupling assembly 106 is described in the '361 patentand is not described in further detail herein. Alternatively, the toolassembly 104 can be fixedly secured to a distal portion of the proximalbody portion 102 such that articulation of the tool assembly 104 inrelation to the proximal body portion 102 is not permitted. The toolassembly 104 includes a pair of jaws, wherein one of the jaws includesor supports a cartridge assembly 108 and the other of the pair of jawsincludes or supports an anvil 110. The cartridge assembly 108 and theanvil 110 are pivotal in relation to each other between spaced andclamped positions as is known in the art to clamp tissue between thejaws. See, for example, the '361 patent.

The proximal body portion 102 of the reload assembly 100 includes aninner body 116 that is received within a cylindrical housing 118 (FIG.10). The inner body 116 has a proximal end that extends from thecylindrical housing 118 and includes nubs 121 adapted to releasablyengage a distal portion of the adapter assembly 14 (FIG. 1) in abayonet-type fashion as described in the '361 patent. The distal end ofthe inner body 116 is connected to the coupling assembly 106 to securethe tool assembly 104 to the proximal body portion 102 of the reloadassembly 100. The housing 118 of the proximal body portion 102 includesat least one window 120 a, 120 b to facilitate visualization of anindicator 122 positioned within the cylindrical housing 118. Inembodiments, the housing 118 defines a window 120 a (FIG. 3) on a firstside of the housing 118 and a window 120 b (FIG. 7) on a second side ofthe housing 118 to facilitate visualization of the indicator 122 fromboth sides of the housing 118. Although the windows 120 a, 120 b areshown to be oval-shaped, it is envisioned that the windows 120 a, 120 bmay assume any of a variety of different configurations that allow aclinician to visualize the indicator 122.

The tool assembly 104 may support one or more illuminating devices 124a-c to improve visualization while the tool assembly 104 is maneuveredendoscopically past tissue to a surgical site. The illuminatingdevice(s) 124 a-c may be electrically connected to the battery pack 20(FIG. 1) of the actuator assembly 12. Alternatively, a separate powersource can be provided in the surgical stapling device 10 or reloadassembly 100 for the illuminating device 124 a-c. In embodiments, theilluminating device 124 a can be positioned on a distal portion of theanvil 108 (FIG. 5), on a portion of a drive assembly 130 (FIG. 4) of thereload assembly 100, and/or on a distal portion of the cartridgeassembly (FIG. 8). In embodiments, the illuminating device 124 a-c canbe a light emitting diode (LED) although other types of illuminatingdevices are envisioned.

In some embodiments, the illuminating device(s) 124 a-c is adapted tochange state after the reload assembly 100 has been fired to provide avisual indication to a clinician about the condition of the reloadassembly 100, i.e., whether the reload assembly 100 is fresh or spent.For example, the illuminating device(s) 124 a-c may initially emit agreen light after the reload assembly 100 is attached to the adapterassembly 14 but prior to use. After the reload assembly 100 is fired,the illuminating device 124 a-c may change state to emit a red light.Alternately, rather than change color, the illuminating device 124 a-cmay include indicia that changes in configuration upon firing. Forexample, the illuminating device 124 a-c may define indicia that changesfrom “fresh” to “spent” upon firing of the reload assembly 100.Alternately, the use of other colors, indicia configurations, and typesof indicia are envisioned.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the proximal body portion 102 includes theinner body 116 (FIG. 9), the drive assembly 130, the indicator 122, thehousing 118, an articulation link 136, and a drive assembly lockout 138.For a detailed description of the articulation link 136, the lockout138, and the operation of both, see the '924 patent. The inner body 116is formed from an upper half-section 116 a and a lower half-section 116b that are secured together using interlocking structures, ultrasonicwelding or the like. The upper and lower half-sections 116 a, 116 binclude an outer surface that defines an elongated recess 140. The driveassembly 130 includes a proximal connector 132 that is adapted toreleasably couple the drive assembly 130 to a control rod (361 patent)or drive shaft (453 Publication) (not shown) of the adapter assembly 14.The drive assembly 130 also includes a distal working portion 134 thatis positioned to translate through the tool assembly 104 to ejectstaples from the cartridge assembly. In embodiments, the working portion134 of the drive assembly 130 includes a knife 134 a for transectingtissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge assemblies.

Referring also to FIGS. 11-13, the indicator 122 is formed of aresilient material and includes a semi-cylindrical body 150 and aproximally extending cantilevered leg 152. The body 150 includes indiciaincluding first indicium 150 a and second indicium 150 b. The first andsecond indicium 150 a, 150 b may be colors, e.g., red and green, orinclude symbols or lettering, e.g., “fresh” and “spent”. In embodiments,the semi-cylindrical body 150 defines an arc of greater than 180 degreesand is movable within the elongated recess 140 of the inner body 116from a retracted position to an advanced position. Alternately, otherbody configurations are envisioned. The cantilevered leg 152 extendsradially inwardly from the body 150 of the indicator 122 into a cavity154 defined by the body 150. In embodiments, the cantilevered leg 152extends proximally from a spine 156 (FIG. 12) defined along an innersurface 150 a (FIG. 12) of the body 150 of the indicator 122. The spine156 is slidably received within an elongated slot 160 (FIG. 13) definedin the inner body 116 to prevent the indicator 122 from rotating aboutthe inner body 116. In the retracted position of the indicator 122, thecantilevered leg 152 is supported on an inner wall 170 of the inner body116 in an inwardly deformed state in a path of movement of the driveassembly 130 and proximally of the elongated slot 160 of the inner body116.

The inner wall 170 of the inner body 116 defines a protrusion 172 (FIG.13) and the cantilevered leg 152 of the indicator 122 defines aconcavity 174. In the retracted position of the indicator 122, theprotrusion 172 is received within the concavity 174 to releasably retainthe indicator 122 in its retracted position until the indicator 122 isengaged by the drive assembly 130 to advance the indicator 122 towardsits advanced position.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, when the reload assembly 100 is fresh andthe drive assembly 130 is in its fully retracted position, the proximalconnector 132 is spaced proximally of the proximal end of thecantilevered leg 152 and the indicator 122 is in its fully retractedposition with the first indicium 150 a positioned beneath the windows120 a, 120 b of the housing 118. In this position, the cantilevered leg152 is deformed inwardly and rests on the inner wall 170 of the innerbody 116, and the protrusion 172 on the inner wall 170 of the inner body116 is received within the concavity 174 of the cantilevered leg 152 toreleasably retain the indicator 122 in its retracted position. Inaddition, the working end 134 of the drive assembly 130 is positioned ina proximal portion of the tool assembly 104 such that the anvil 110 andcartridge assembly 108 are in a spaced position (FIG. 2).

It is noted that the proximal connector is positioned proximally of theproximal end of the cantilevered leg 152 a distance “X” (FIG. 15). Thedistance “X” is selected to allow the drive assembly 130 to move thetool assembly 104 to the clamped position without advancing theindicator 122. Thus, if the tool assembly 104 of the reload assembly 100is moved between the spaced and clamped positions but has not beenfired, the reload assembly will still provide an indication to aclinician that the reload assembly 100 is fresh if it is subsequentlyremoved from the stapling device 10 prior to firing.

Referring to FIG. 16, when the drive assembly 130 is advanced in thedirection indicated by arrow “A” to move the tool assembly 104 to theclamped position, the drive assembly 130 including the connector 132 aremoved distally within the inner body 116 of the reload assembly 100 suchthat the connector 132 approaches the proximal end of the indicator 122.As the drive assembly 130 moves distally, the working portion 134engages the cartridge assembly 108 and anvil 110 to move the jaws to theclamped position (FIG. 16A).

As shown in FIG. 17, the spine 156 of the indicator 122 is positionedwithin the elongated slot 160 defined in the inner body 116 of theproximal body portion 102 of the reload assembly 100. This preventsrotation of the indicator 122 about the inner body 116 of the proximalbody portion 102 to maintain alignment of the cantilevered leg 152 andthe elongated slot 160.

Referring to FIG. 18, when the reload assembly 100 is fired by actuatingthe actuator assembly 12 (FIG. 1) as is known in the art, the driveassembly 130 moves into engagement with the proximal end of thecantilevered leg 152 to advance the indicator 122 distally to itsadvanced position. When the indicator 122 reaches its advanced position,a distal end of the indicator 122 engages a wall or first stop surface180 defining a distal end of the slot 160 to prevent further distalmovement of the indicator 122. When this occurs, the cantilevered leg152, which is now positioned above the slot 160 in the inner body 116,springs outwardly in the direction indicated by arrow “B” into the slot160 to its non-deformed state. In its non-deformed state, thecantilevered leg 152 is positioned outwardly of the path of movement ofthe drive assembly 130 and is aligned with a wall or second stop surface182 defining a proximal end of the slot 160. The second stop surface 182prevents proximal movement of the indicator 122. Thus, the indicator 122is prevented from moving both proximally and distally and is locked out.In the locked out position, the second indicium 150 b is positionedbeneath the windows 120 a, 120 b.

Referring also to FIGS. 19-24, when the cantilevered leg 152 springsoutwardly into the slot 160, the drive assembly 130 is free to continueto move in the direction indicated by arrow “A” (FIG. 18) past thecantilevered leg 152 to its fully advanced position (FIG. 22) to ejectthe remaining staples from the cartridge assembly 108.

Referring to FIGS. 25-27, when the drive assembly 130 is retracted, thedrive assembly 130 including the proximal connector 132 can pass by thecantilevered leg 152 of the indicator 122 which is positioned within theslot 160. As described above, the indicator 122 is locked out with thesecond indicium 150 b positioned beneath the windows 120 a, 120 b of thehousing 118 to provide a clear indication to a clinician that the reloadassembly 100 is spent. In addition as described above, the illuminatingdevice 124 a-c can change state to provide further visualization to aclinician that the reload assembly 100 is spent. At this point, thereload assembly 100 can be removed from the surgical stapling device 10and discarded.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methodsspecifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. It is envisioned thatthe elements and features illustrated or described in connection withone exemplary embodiment may be combined with the elements and featuresof another without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.As well, one skilled in the art will appreciate further features andadvantages of the disclosure based on the above-described embodiments.Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be limited by what has beenparticularly shown and described, except as indicated by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A reload assembly comprising: a proximal bodyportion including a housing, a drive assembly, and an indicator, thehousing defining a window, the drive assembly supported within thehousing and being movable from a retracted position to an advancedposition, the indicator being supported within the housing and beingmovable from a retracted position to an advanced position in response tomovement of the drive assembly from the retracted position to theadvanced position; and a tool assembly supported on a distal portion ofthe proximal body portion, the tool assembly including first and secondjaws, the first jaw supporting an anvil and the second jaw supporting acartridge assembly having a plurality of staples; wherein the indicatorincludes first and second indicia, the first indicia being positionedbeneath the window of the housing in the retracted position of theindicator and the second indicia being positioned beneath the window ofthe housing in the advanced position of the indicator.
 2. The reloadassembly of claim 1, wherein the first indicium includes a first colorand the second indicium includes a second color different than the firstcolor.
 3. The reload assembly of claim 2, wherein the first indicium isgreen and the second indicium is red.
 4. The reload assembly of claim 1,wherein the drive assembly includes a distal working portion, the distalworking portion being movable through the tool assembly as the driveassembly moves from the retracted position towards the advanced positionto eject the plurality of staples from the cartridge assembly.
 5. Thereload assembly of claim 4, further including at least one illuminatingdevice supported on the tool assembly.
 6. The reload assembly of claim5, wherein the illuminating device is supported on at least one of thecartridge assembly, the anvil, and the drive assembly.
 7. The reloadassembly of claim 5, wherein illuminating device is a light emittingdiode.
 8. The reload assembly of claim 5, wherein the illuminatingdevice is adapted to change in state after the drive assembly is movedfrom the retracted position to the advanced position to eject theplurality of staples from the cartridge assembly.
 9. The reload assemblyof claim 8, wherein the change in state is a change in color.
 10. Thereload assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal body portion includesan inner body supported within the housing, the inner body defining anelongated recess, the indicator being movable within the elongatedrecess from the retracted position to the advanced position.
 11. Thereload assembly of claim 10, wherein the indicator includes a body and acantilevered leg extending proximally of the body, the cantilevered legbeing positioned to be engaged by drive assembly as the drive assemblymoves from the retracted position towards the advanced position.
 12. Thereload assembly of claim 10, wherein the body of the indicator issemi-cylindrical and is dimensioned to be received about within theelongated recess of the inner body of the proximal body portion.
 13. Thereload assembly of claim 12, wherein the cantilevered leg of theindicator is movable from a deformed state in which the cantilevered legis positioned to be engaged by the drive assembly and to a non-deformedstate in which the cantilevered leg of the indicator is spaced from apath of movement of the drive assembly.
 14. The reload assembly of claim13, wherein the inner body defines an inner wall, the inner wall beingpositioned to retain the cantilevered leg of the indicator in thedeformed state when the indicator is in the retracted position.
 15. Thereload assembly of claim 13, wherein the inner body defines a slot, theslot being positioned to receive the cantilevered leg of the indicatorwhen the indicator is in the advanced position to allow the cantileveredleg to move to the non-deformed state.
 16. The reload assembly of claim13, wherein the inner wall defines a protrusion and the cantilevered legdefines a concavity, the protrusion being received within the concavityto releasably retain the indicator in the retracted position.
 17. Areload assembly comprising: a proximal body portion including an innerbody and a drive assembly supported within the inner body, the driveassembly having a distal working portion and being movable within thebody portion from a retracted position to an advanced position; and atool assembly including first and second jaws, the first and second jawsbeing movable in relation to each other from an open position to aclamped position; the first jaw supporting an anvil and the second jawsupporting a cartridge assembly supporting a plurality of staples, thedistal working portion of the drive assembly being movable through thetool assembly to eject the plurality of staples from the cartridgeassembly; wherein the tool assembly supports an illuminating devicedefining indicia, the indicia being adapted to change from a firstcondition to a second condition when the plurality of staples areejected from the cartridge assembly.
 18. The reload assembly of claim17, wherein in the first condition the indicia is a first color and inthe second condition the indicia is a second color.
 19. The reloadassembly of claim 18, wherein the illuminating device is supported on atleast one of the anvil, the cartridge assembly, and the drive assembly.20. The reload assembly of claim 19, wherein the illuminating device issupported on a distal portion of at least one of the anvil and thecartridge assembly.
 21. The reload assembly of claim 17, wherein theilluminating device includes a light emitting diode.
 22. The reloadassembly of claim 17, wherein the proximal body portion includes ahousing that receives the inner body, and an indicator positioned withinthe housing, the indicator being supported within the housing and beingmovable from a retracted position to an advanced position in response tomovement of the drive assembly from the retracted position to theadvanced position, wherein the indicator includes first and secondindicia, the first indicia being positioned beneath the window of thehousing in the retracted position of the indicator and the secondindicia being positioned beneath the window of the housing in theadvanced position of the indicator.